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Apr 30, 2018

If you've followed Whitney à la mode for long, you've probably realized that there's nothing I love more than a pretty dress! So when the queen of pretty dresses, Julia Engel of Gal Meets Glam, announced that she was launching a dress collection, I couldn't wait to try a few!

On my budget, these dresses are definitely a special occasion purchase. I ordered four of my favorites with the intent to only keep one. But oops, I'm keeping two (and am having a really hard time saying "goodbye" to a third). The dresses are just so dreamy!

The dresses came in beautiful packaging with a special note from Julia herself. All of the fabrics felt luxurious and the dresses seem well-made. These little lovelies are available in two places. You can find them at the Gal Meets Glam Collection website or at Nordstrom! You can find most of the dresses in both places but each shop does feature a few special editions that you can't find elsewhere. I chose to order mine from GMG directly because one of the dresses I really wanted was sold-out from Nordstrom. I did follow the sizing suggestions in the reviews from Nordstrom, though, and found them to be really helpful!

So, are you ready to see the dresses?

Ellie
The Ellie dress is a crepe, flowing dress that comes in a pretty light blue or a blush pink. Typically I would choose blush but for some reason, the blue option caught my eye. The waist-band is elastic, making this dress super comfortable. I loved the feminine detailing in the bows that line the front and the slightly puffed sleeves. Friends, I felt like Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Belle is my all-time favorite Disney princess (and my grandma actually calls me Belle because of our similarities) so you know that this is a compliment coming from me! Unfortunately, there were two dresses I somehow loved more, so Ellie is getting returned. I'm not sure what GMG sales will look like since the collection is brand new, but you better believe I will be looking for the price to drop on this dress!

Carly is a sheath-style, gingham dress that totally reminds me of a little 1950s glamour. Typically I don't wear sheaths but I couldn't resist the charm of this one. Can't you picture it with some classic espadrilles and a pair of cat-eye sunglasses?! Unfortunately, the dress just didn't fit. The reviewers on Nordstrom suggested sizing-up so I ordered a 10 (as opposed to my typical size 8). While the dress technically covered my body, the material around the buttons gaped and the fabric around my thighs felt too tight. It's probably a good thing that the dress didn't fit or I probably would have wanted to keep all four!

Sizing: I would suggest going-up two sizes, at least for girls with curves. If you typically fit well into sheath dresses, the sizing might be different for you.

Verdict: Returned

SamanthaThis is the dress that I knew I had to order as soon as I saw it! The blush pink, the stripes, the fit and flare, the bow! I'm on a dress high and I never want to come down! This beauty also comes in a beautiful light blue color. I already plan to wear the Samantha to a wedding I'm attending this summer.

While I was most excited to try the Samantha, it's actually Ardith that ended-up my favorite! Ardith is a fit and flare, midi-lenth, gingham dress and I'm smitten! While the quality feels as superb as the rest, the material makes the dress a bit more wearable for casual occasions. And the cut of the top is super flattering! Keep your eyes peeled for a special birthday look featuring Ardith at the end of May. I'm so excited!

Sizing: I went up one size (to a 10) based on the Nordstrom reviews and the dress fits perfectly!

Verdict: Keeping! Keeping! Keeping!

Though I wanted to try all the dresses, these were my four favorites! Which do you like best? Have you checked-out the entire collection? Which dress would you choose?Save

Apr 27, 2018

Welcome to J'adore, my weekly space for sharing what makes me happy lately!1. The Gal Meets Glam Collection. Y'all, if I could dress like Julia Engel 100% of the time, I would. So when I saw that she was launching a line of dreamy dresses, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a few! THEY CAME IN THE MAIL TODAY and I'm smitten! I'm putting together a review post so you can look for that on Monday.2. Boarding School Mysteries. It just so happens that the audiobook I'm listening to and the book book I'm reading right now remind me a lot of one another. The Broken Girlsand The Secret Place(by one of my favorites) are both psychological mysteries that take place at girls' boarding schools. Interestingly, each has an element of the supernatural which isn't normally my thing but both stories have me riveted! I'm hoping to finish The Secret Place this weekend and then The Broken Girls during my commute next week!3. Sugar-Free, Naturally-Sweetened Pop. My friend Andrea mentioned this brand of pop (soda for you non-midwesterners) on her blog not too long ago. I've been pretty good about eating healthily lately but every once and awhile I really crave something bubbly (and not just carbonated water, which I do love). These drinks are amazing! I highly recommend buying the value pack from Amazon because you get to try so many different flavors. I've narrowed-down my favorites and will definitely be purchasing them from my local grocery store soon!SaveSaveSaveSaveSave

Apr 23, 2018

Happy Monday, ladies! I'm excited to be starting a new, monthly series today!

Do you struggle with what to wear to work? I know I do! Sometimes it feels like it takes so much effort to even put clothes on at 5:00 in the morning, let alone wear something cute and creative! Most of the outfits that I find inspiring from blogs or on Pinterest are more casual looks and I know I'm guilty of featuring lots of jeans ensembles here at Whitney à la mode.

But no more, my friend Carrie (the queen of nine to five style, in my book) and I will be collaborating to bring you a monthly post featuring some great wear-to-work looks!

My goal for these posts is to show you one piece, two ways: a work look and a weekend outfit. For our inaugural post, I'm featuring a floral blouse. Since it's been so chilly in Michigan, I've been wearing my warmer floral-print pieces in an effort to embrace spring.

For my work look, I chose a color from the floral print and found bottoms to pull-out that hue, in this case olive! Some cognac accessories complete the look.

For my weekend ensemble, I wanted to do a bit more than just pair the blouse with jeans. A sweater vest is a fun completer piece for this time of year!

And there you have it, a floral blouse that's great for work or play! What are you wearing to work this week? And don't forget to head-over to Carrie's blog for some more, great work-wear inspiration!

Apr 20, 2018

1. Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken. You guys, this is probably the easiest recipe I've ever made. Not only is it easy, the recipe makes lots and the chicken dish is low in calories. I made the Buffalo Chicken on Sunday for dinner and my boyfriend and I have been eating it for lunch all week! We've used it to make Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese and Buffalo Chicken Melts. I've also eaten it plain with just a slice of melted cheese on top and today I'm putting bites of Buffalo Chicken onto slices of cucumber. The recipe is super versatile and goes a long way!

2. Dutch Blitz. My boyfriend introduced me to this game and it's my new favorite! Think of it as a fast-paced, multi-player version of solitaire. It took me awhile to get the hang of it (my first several games I scored in the negative) but now I'm hooked!

3. The Lightning Thief. Okay, I realize I'm over a decade late to the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series of YA novels, but a friend of mine recommended this book for our audiobook club and I'm really enjoying it! It does remind me a lot of my beloved Harry Potter series but with a Greek god twist. If you are looking for an easy read (or listen) that's full of adventure, I definitely recommend this series.

Apr 18, 2018

Happy middle-of-January, ya'll! Not! But really, with snow and ice storms sweeping across our state this week, it definitely doesn't feel like April.

I'm still trying to follow my own advice for dressing like spring even though it feels like winter while endlessly wondering when it will actually feel warmer.

Here I'm attempting to channel spring by wearing a jacket I love, a new spring purse and a warm-weather print: floral! I decided to follow the advice of one of my favorite bloggers, Anne, and treat myself to a fun, new scarf this month. A new scarf, especially in a floral print, can help to freshen your wardrobe (and perspective) while still adding warm layers to an outfit.

Apr 16, 2018

For my entire adult life, I've attempted to run. About every three years I would jog regularly for a couple months, decide that running was the worst, and then stop. Until now.

I've been running regularly for almost a year and can actually feel myself improving, finally! The other day, I ran five whole miles without stopping to walk and decided that I can officially declare myself a runner!

So I'm here today to give other beginning runners some tips. I am by no means an expert. In fact, you can find lots of running advice from "experts" online but I usually give these articles the side-eye because the authors apparently don't remember how much running actually sucks as a beginner!

So, from one beginner to another, here's how I've survived a year of running.

Find Goals That Actually Motivate You
Until this year, my primary reason for running was always to lose weight. This may be a super motivating goal for you, but it just didn't work for me! I would run for a few months, not see any weight results and then quit. Now, I run because I want to beat my best times at races. My boyfriend convinced me to run a few 5ks with him last summer. As I trained and realized that I could go faster and faster at these races, I got hooked! Now I'm competing with myself to go faster and farther than before. This is what works for me! This is what I find fun about running. So find what motivates you and go after that goal (and you might need to readjust that goal if you find that it's not inspiring you to work harder).

Follow A Training Program
This is another big one for me! When I tried to run in the past, I would head out three days a week and just try to run as much of a 5k as possible. It got boring and disheartening. Now I realize that not all of my runs have to be the same. I can spend one run working on speed and the next on distance. Some practice runs can be short and some can be long. With this variety, I've yet to get bored. If you have a friend who is into running, ask him or her to help you come-up with a plan! If not, there are plenty of training programs online whether you are shooting for a 5k or beyond.

You Don't Have to Run with a Group
So many of the "tips from running experts" you will find online encourage you to find friends or a running group to join. I actually don't really like to run with others. So you know what, I don't! For some reason I psych myself out when I run with other people. I try to go too fast at first and then burn-out. I've gotten to the point where there are a choice few people I enjoy running with but for the most part, I'm a solitary runner and that's okay. So really, find what works for you, group or no group!

If It Hurts, Stretch
I've talked to a variety of friends who run and each person has a different opinion about stretching. Some stretch before running, not after. Some do the opposite. Some don't stretch at all! This can be very confusing but my best tip for you is to listen to your body. I wasn't really stretching and found myself having some shin, calf and foot pain. The pain didn't really feel related to stretching but I decided to do a few stretches before running to see if it would help. And it did! I understand what works best for my body right now and if things hurt in the future, I will adjust.

Clothes Matter
And I'm not just saying this because I'll take any excuse to buy cute clothes (work-out wear included). I have four must-have pieces for successful and comfortable running. The first is pretty obvious, comfortable shoes. I wear these but you just have to try shoes on and figure-out what works best for you. I also think socks are super important! Regular socks won't absorb sweat properly and will give you blisters. I wear these for pain-free feet. Pants have actually been my biggest struggle with running clothes. I can't tell you how many droopy pair of leggings I've had to tug at while running. My best advice is to find leggings (or shorts or pants) with a drawstring that you can tighten to keep your pants up! And finally, don't wear cotton shirts. They will get sweaty and heavy. Find tops with moisture-wicking material for a more pleasant run.

There you have it, my running friends. This is what changed me from a self-proclaimed hater of running to a runner. I know that running sucks right now, but I promise you that it will eventually suck less! You can do it!Save

Apr 13, 2018

Welcome to the second round of J'adore, my new space to share a few things that I'm loving this week!

1. Instinct. After only having Netflix for a few years and switching back to cable, I'm terrible at remembering to watch shows live, as they're happening. But I really want to use the cable package that we're paying for so my boyfriend and I decided to give the brand-new show, Instinct, a try! It took a few episodes to hit its stride, but we're really enjoying the show! If you are fan of crime shows (think Criminal Minds, Law and Order, Castle, etc.), give Instinct a try! It's fun to follow along with the mysteries and Alan Cumming is a delight!

2. Sriracha Carrot Hummus. It sounds weird, but you guys, a container of this doesn't last long in my house! This stuff is so good on veggies or chips. I've found it at my local Meijer.

3. Blush pink. Okay, my love of this color isn't exactly new. But I'm finding myself drawn to so many blush pieces lately. I just purchased this denim jacket (size-up at least two sizes) and am seriously eyeing these wedges that are currently on sale (thanks, Kellyann).

Apr 11, 2018

When I think of spring, pastel colors immediately come to mind. But when I contemplate the color that I wear the most this time of year, it's definitely coral!

When I look at my face in these photos, I have to laugh a bit because my expression looks slightly pained. It was definitely too cold to go without a jacket on this particular evening so you better believe I hustled back to the car and put one on when we were done with the shoot.

Even though it's still not feeling like spring, I'm trying to follow my own advice for dressing during this transitional time. So here I am, starting with some fun flats (au revoir snow boots!) and wearing my favorite spring color! I also decided that denim in a lighter wash and a light grey top had me feeling a bit more like April, too!

Can we talk about these shoes for a minute? They are from last spring's Old Navy line-up and they have held up so well! The shoes are also super comfy! Old Navy has them again this year but in different colors and I would highly recommend grabbing a pair!

What I'm Wearing:Top: My Sister's Closet Boutique (similar)Necklace: I don't even remember (similar)Jeans: American Eagle (exact)Flats: Old Navy (exact but in different colors)

What is your favorite color to wear for spring? Here are a few of my coral picks (all under $50) if you need a little color to brighten your season!

Apr 9, 2018

Hey, y'all! I mentioned a few weeks ago that I tried Trunk Club and wanted to write a review post about my experience. Well, here we are!

My helper bud obviously wanted in on this review post.

What is Trunk Club?Trunk Club is a personal styling service through Nordstrom. For a $25 styling fee, your personal stylist will get to know you and what you like to wear. Then she will send you a trunk filled with goodies curated for you to try-on. From there, you purchase what you want to keep (the $25 fee is applied to what you decide to buy) and send the rest back for free! Afterwards, you review all pieces so that your stylist can use the information to put together your next trunk. You can choose to receive a new trunk every month or seasonally (and you can skip trunks if you want).

If this is something you are interested in trying, I would super appreciate you using my my referral link so I can earn money towards my next trunk!

Why I like Trunk Club better than Stitch Fix.

You might be thinking that TC sounds a lot like Stitch Fix. That's because it's super similar...but I like Trunk Club better! Yes, the styling fee is $25 as opposed the $20 for Stitch Fix. But you get so many more items in your Trunk Club box. I feel that your odds of getting something you like are way better! Plus, the styling fee is applied to what you decide to buy anyways, so that extra $5 doesn't matter too much.

I also like the personal connection you have to your Trunk Club stylist. You actually get to chat with her (or him) in real time about your personal style and what kinds of clothes you are looking for. That paired with the style survey you fill-out helps your stylist to really pick-out things that are perfect for you!

On top of the variety of pieces you receive and the personal attention, my stylist nailed my fit! I usually eliminated most Stitch Fix pieces I received because they didn't fit quite right. My stylist, Katy, made it hard to choose what to keep because all but one piece fit so well!

The Pieces.
Here are the items I received in my first trunk and what I think of them!

Bobeau Lightweight Twist Hem Top: I only allowed myself to keep two items from my first trunk and this is one of them! The top has a nice weight to it (is a bit heavier than just a t-shirt) and is a lovely oatmeal color. Plus I love that it is a basic with a twist (literally). I'm wearing a small so I would definitely go down one size from your usual.

Apr 6, 2018

Happy Friday, loves! I'm so excited to start a new series today on Whitney à la mode. At the end of every week, I plan to share with you a few things that I adore lately. I know that lots of other bloggers do this, but I'm excited to put my own spin on the concept. So without further ado, here is what I'm loving this week:

1. She's All Fat Podcast. If you are looking for a listen that's fun but with an important message, I highly recommend the She's All Fat podcast. Sophie and April are sassy, hilarious and have something important to say in regards to body positivity and self love. Not to mention this is a place for "chill vibes only." Definitely check them out!

2. Granger Smith Parody. Okay, so first you have to listen to this song that is currently on pop-country stations. And then you have to listen to this song. Yep, that's the same guy, parodying himself. You gotta love someone with talent and a sense of humor! I'm still cracking-up over here.

3. Coffee AM. Are you like me and must start every day with a cup of coffee? Do you love flavored coffees? Then check-out Coffee AM. My boyfriend recently ordered us a bag of Chocolate Strawberry and it's amazing. Plus there are about a bajillion other yummy sounding flavors that I want to try!

Apr 4, 2018

cultivating: garden ideas. I'm not cultivating an actual garden, just ideas about how to actually start one! I live in a house for the first time since leaving my family home for college and I'm so excited to plant flowers and a few veggies. But where do I begin? Any expert gardeners out there have tips on how to get started? photo credit

expecting: to breathe new life into my blog! I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I've been struggling to find inspiration to blog for the past few months. What is my blogging voice? What story am I telling? Is it worth telling? I don't have the answers to these questions but I know that this is a hobby that I love so I'm going to try to find new ways to enjoy it. You can expect to see a new series called J'adore that I will be starting on Friday!

making: a DIY tulip wreath! I've admired Anne's, so I was excited to discover that my best friend actually made a similar one for her home. She is going to help me put together a spring wreath for my front door since I'm not much of a DIYer on my own.

buying: a MudLOVE mug. I purchased one for my above mentioned best friend's birthday and just love the story behind the brand. MudLOVE is a pottery company from Indiana. For every artisan product you purchase from them, you are providing one week of clean water for a community in need.

Meet Whitney

Bonjour! My name is Whitney! I'm a thirty-something navigating a career change, wedding planning, and wardrobe remixing on a budget- all while exploring my new hometown in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Join me as I make my thirties my best decade yet!